How Might We Use Music To Bless People?

I am delighted and honored that I was invited to submit an article for publication with Church Music Forward, a community of and resource for church musicians that claims as its mission "preserving traditions with imagination." Getting to know new friends Martha Burford and John-Westley Hodges, founders of CMF, has been a blast and I can't wait to hang out with them at the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy in July! I've included the text of my article below, but before that is a link to the entire newsletter. There are a myriad of wonderful gems contained therein, both reflections on the vocation of church music ministry and practical advice for the daily practice of church music. I encourage you to take a look and then subscribe to CMF's email list so you'll be alerted when the next newsletter comes out.Church Music Forward June 2015 NewsletterHow Might We use Music to Bless People? That was question I had never been asked before, and I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more about what motivated its asking. I was asked this question in the context of a job interview at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Park Ridge, IL, the parish I just this week began serving as Interim Minister of Music, and I immediately knew that I was in the right place. I responded by confessing that I had never before been asked that question, had never thought about music ministry in quite that way before, and that I thought it was exactly the question that leaders of the church’s song need to be asking.Blessing is at the heart of what God does and we do in the context of the Eucharist. We offer our selves, our souls and bodies and a portion of the gifts we have been given along with the gifts of bread and wine and we bless them – God blesses them. God blesses us and we are transformed to be more and more Christ’s body so that we, that Christ, might be a blessing to the world. With all of this blessing going on, it seems meet and right that the music we offer to the glory of God and the edification of God’s people should bless people as well.A few months ago I posted the following on Facebook, “When choosing music for liturgy, one must not only concern oneself with things liturgical, musical, and theological. One must also concern oneself with things pastoral, and sometimes this needs to win out over the other three.” I received several responses to this statement – some enthusiastically supportive, some needing clarification around the intent of the statement, and others that made me feel a bit like I was being accused of heresy. I think both the statement and the various responses relate intimately to the question of how we might bless people with music, particularly in the context of liturgy.

“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, NRSV

Sometimes, in an effort to conform to either an actual or simply a perceived standard of liturgical, musical, or theological orthodoxy, we church musicians forget that the God we serve loves the world, God loves each of us so much that God was willing to “take frail flesh and die.” While theological, liturgical, and musical integrity is most certainly important, conforming to overly stringent standards of orthodoxy does not in any way cause God to love us more. God delights in our existence and, I believe, delights when our souls soar to the heights of heaven as we sing a robust hymn, listen to a motet, play a banjo, clap on beats 2 and 4, and enjoy a Vierne organ symphony. It is this delight of God that we are called to show forth in our music ministry. You may notice that all of this involves and is about people. All ministry – liturgical, musical, etc. involves the people whom God so loves and our ministry is to be grounded in the love of God’s people. This is people work – pastoral work. If we make the most pure, sublime, correct music, but have not the love of God’s people at the forefront of our work, are we not little more than noisy gongs and clanging cymbals?With the love of God and God’s people at the center of our calling as ones who minister through music our choice of music for liturgy will necessarily focus at least at some level around the pastoral needs of the people with whom we minister. There are times when a certain piece of music may be completely appropriate theologically, liturgically, and musically and completely inappropriate pastorally. This is not to say that any music should be sung that is theologically, liturgically, or musically inappropriate should be sung simply because it might seem to be pastorally appropriate.Like one of the people who commented on my Facebook post pointed out, there certainly is a (classically Anglican) middle way here. When we prayerfully choose music for our congregations and our choices are theologically, liturgically, and musically grounded AND ever-attentive to the pastoral needs of our people, God takes great delight, we offer to God our most humble and hearty thanks, and the music we offer blesses God and the people with whom we minister.Beau Surratt Interim Minster of Music, St. Mary’s Episcopal Churchbeausurratt@stmaryspr.org

"Thriving Musically" Workshop Resource List Diocesan Convention 2014

Resources Mentioned by Dr. Keith Hampton"God Hears Me When I Pray""God Is Doing Something Wonderful In Me"[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tkMQiBOaU&w=560&h=315]"I Really Love the Lord"[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQqM8iNebYw&w=560&h=315]Resources Mentioned by Beau Surrattshrutibox.comTell them Ana Hernandez sent you to get the nice and economically priced model that she uses."Glory to God," the new Presbyterian hymnal         "Come bring your burdens to God" (in both "Glory to God" and "We Walk His Way")[vimeo 41080945 w=500 h=375]"We Walk His Way" (shorter songs for worship from the Iona Community and John Bell)         Featured from this resource was "God Welcomes All" on pg. 20."Come All You People" (shorter songs for worship from the Iona Community and John Bell)           Featured from this resource was the setting of the Sanctus and Benedictus on pg. 92Setting of Psalm 78 based on "Go Down Moses"Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship      Setting of Psalm 119 with "Order My Steps" refrain (adapted from "Psalms for All Seasons")Also featured from "Psalms for All Seasons" was the setting of Psalm 46 on pg. 298."At Your Altars" (Chants, Refrains, and Short Songs) edited by Dan Damon

Don't you need a little Christmas?

For several weeks now posts from people complaining that they're beginning to see Christmas/holiday decorations, commercials, etc., have been popping up in my social media feeds. And I understand the need to complain, I really do. Excessive consumerism and all that. But, the thing is, I'm a cockeyed optimist, so I'm going to try to ascribe more noble motives to the folks who are listening to Christmas music and already have their Christmas trees up, etc.We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.Typhoons, mass shootings, broken relationships, abuse, violence---in the midst of all of this, God so loves the world that God moves right into the neighborhood with us, as a tiny vulnerable child, full of grace and truth. In the midst of the brokenness of our world, Christmas happens.  The miracle and mystery of the Incarnation is something we need-- something our world needs-- all the time, not just once the Church has had a meet and right observance of the season of Advent. We are all yearning for redemption. The whole earth is groaning in labor pains. Maybe our culture somehow understands this better than the Church does. Joyful songs, giving of gifts, family gatherings and sumptuous meals.  Beautiful, ornate (okay, and sometimes garish) decorations. Perhaps all of these "trappings of the season" with which people are so anxious to get going are an outward and visible sign of the truth that all of us are longing for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Maybe our culture doesn't understand Advent, and maybe that's okay. But our culture certainly knows how to get started early on Christmas and it may be that folks in the Church could have a little more fun with that and try to see where Christ might be in the midst of it.My favorite season of the Church Year is Advent-- I love everything about it- the hymns, Advent Lessons and Carols, the Collects from the Book of Common Prayer, Advent Wreaths, etc., and I definitely think we should stick to Advent during Advent in our liturgical life as Church. But, truth be told, I've already got Christmas music running through my head, and that's not just because I started planning Christmas music for Church months ago. We just bought a new Christmas tree and are planning to put it up this weekend. I'll probably start listening to Christmas music in the car soon. In the midst of this chaotic and often confusing world, I feel like I need a little Christmas, right this very minute. Even so, I'm thankful that we'll be hearing this passage from Isaiah on this "2nd Sunday before Advent" as it speaks to the longing that I believe is at the heart of all of our too early pre-Christmas hysteria:Isaiah 65:17-25For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD--and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-- its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.Here's Joe Mattingly's "On that holy mountain," one of my favorite pieces of music to pair with this text, and one that we'll be singing on Sunday at All Saints' Episcopal Church.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwmzsbSb_XE&w=560&h=315]

Sermon:"What are you protecting yourself from?" August 4, 2013, All Saints' Episcopal Church, Chicago

Beau Surratt | Proper 13C | Luke 12:13-21 | August 4, 2013 | All Saints, Chicago

What are you protecting yourself from?There I was in yoga class on Thursday night...it was the period of relaxation at the end of class—that time when, after all of the exertion of a yoga practice, the body is given a chance to rest, regroup and reset itself, by lying on the back and relaxing completely into the floor. My yoga teacher Nick, who could help even the most tightly wound person to relax completely, was leading us into relaxation by inviting us to let go of any of the places where we were holding tension in our bodies. I hadn’t been to a yoga class in a while so I was totally enjoying this. I was in that yoga bliss zone and it was great. That is, until Nick uttered those words that sent me spiraling into sermon prep mode for the whole rest of savasana:What are you protecting yourself from?Safety….protection…security…certainty—these are things that many of us seek to cultivate in our own lives and in the lives of our families.Parental drives to protect their children are particularly strong, and rightly so—this is especially prevalent in moms who will often try to protect kids and even adults who aren’t even their own—like when you’re riding in a car with a colleague who is a mom and, when there’s a particularly hard stop she throws her arm out in front of you like a mom-sized seatbelt, except…she’s not your mom. Or, like yesterday at the lunch break for our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training course when Andrea Garland, mom to Owen and Eli, felt compelled to make things better and protect me from having a meltdown yesterday when the waitress spilled water all over my pants and I didn’t react at all.Our protection instincts run strong, particularly in this part of the world in this day and age. Life insurance, car insurance, pet insurance—insurance insurance. We yearn for and crave safety, security and protection, and it’s no wonder, really. Author, researcher and TED talk diva Brené Brown (who is an Episcopalian, by the way!) tells us in her bestselling book Daring Greatlythat she’s witnessed major shifts in the zeitgeist of our country. She says, “The world has never been an easy place, but the past decade has been traumatic for so many people that it’s made changes in our culture. From 9/11, multiple wars, and the recession, to catastrophic natural disasters and the increase in random violence and school shootings, we’ve survived and are surviving events that have torn at our sense of safety with such force that we’ve experienced them as trauma even if we weren’t directly involved.”All of us have ways that we deal of the harshness of the world--- ways of looking for peace in the midst of the chaos, hope in the midst of the apparently hopeless, control in the midst of uncertainty...ways to ratchet our vulnerability down even just a little when everything seems like too much to bear.What are you protecting yourself from?In December of 2012 I returned to All Saints’ after almost a year of being away from this community. By my count, this makes my fourth incarnation on the All Saints’ staff--- College Intern, Parish Administrator, Associate for Music and Administration, and now Director of Music. In mid 2011 I had been working full time as Parish Administrator here at All Saints’ for about 4 years when Margaret McCamant, who was the Director of Music here for 20 years (and now, much to my delight, sings in the choir, plays fiddle and does a myriad of other things here in this community) retired. After much thought, consideration, discernment and questioning about whether it would be something that might work, Bonnie (our Rector-Senior Pastor) and I decided that I would take on the music director duties in addition to my duties as Parish Administrator. I certainly wasn’t 100% sure that working 60 hours each week in this amazing and quirky community of faith would work, but I was so excited about the possibility of being able to make music with y’all that I felt compelled to jump in with both feet. And it was really wonderful….for a little while. At some point during those months I realized something that, quite frankly, scared the hell out of me. I couldn’t control it all. I was used to being able to rely on my competence to be able to handle whatever anyone threw at me, but, in these two areas where I felt very competent, I just couldn’t handle it all. It was out of my control and it made me very, very uncomfortable (and, if you worked with me in the office during those months, you’ll know this well—cranky.) So, I did what anyone else would do when completely overwhelmed…..I joined the Roman Catholic Church.Now…before you think that working at All Saints’ drove me to the Roman Catholic Church, I should be really clear that I had felt drawn in that direction for various reasons for a long time and it was something that I would eventually have to experience for myself in order to know completely what it was. But what led me to leave All Saints’ and go to work and worship in a Roman Catholic parish at that particular time was something in myself that I didn’t know quite how to deal with. I wanted to feel in control again…I wanted to feel like I knew all the answers…I wanted some certainty about things, and I didn’t want to feel so darn vulnerable---and, truth be told, if there is a Church that doesn’t project even an iota of vulnerability, it’s the Roman Catholic Church. I certainly found wonderful grace and comfort during my time in the Catholic Church. I also got to know some very pious- very devoutly religious people - who certainly helped me with my need for certainty. But here’s the thing…the more I was attracted to that certainty the more I saw its shadow side. The faith that was so important to me had again become almost completely about being certain and getting it all right. The faith that had been kindled into a living, breathing flame through the Holy Spirit’s work in me through my first encounters with the All Saints’ community had become a matter of participating in the right rituals in the right way as if to try and make sure God knew that I really cared. I was accumulating all of this right belief and religious experience, and that was it—I was accumulating it. Storing it up, protecting myself so that I wouldn’t have to worry about anybody or anything else.A few months later, when I went with All Saints’ and Ravenswood Community Services to the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s annual Hunger Walk (and eventually began the series of conversations that would bring me back home to All Saints’ and the Episcopal Church) it became very clear to me that I was longing to return to this community. Being at Hunger Walk reminded of something very important that I had learned and seen embodied at All Saints’ and that became an integral part of my faith: The Gospel doesn’t matter one bit if it doesn’t change people’s lives. I had been spending a lot of time learning the Gospel, but precious little time living it.We all at different times in our lives find ourselves longing to protect, hold close, and maybe even hoard our money, possessions, time, religious experiences, our denomination, our church. Particularly when we’re feeling overwhelmed, angry, uncertain, and scared. But Jesus says to us the same thing he said to the rich farmer in our story from Luke’s Gospel today who stored up all his grains and goods so he could eat, drink, and be merry: “This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."Blogger about the weekly lectionary readings, Sarah Dylan Breuer writes: “When we're dead set on accumulation, whether it's some kind of moral points we think we're gathering or wealth to shield us from misfortune and suffering, we end up trapped in anxiety. There's usually an awareness that we're kidding ourselves, that life involves vulnerability.”Life involves vulnerability.  Vulnerability....being ALL IN, as Brené Brown puts it. And she goes on to say in Daring Greatly,  “Vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement. Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our purpose; the level to which we protect ourselves from being vulnerable is a measure of our fear and disconnection.”Life involves vulnerability.This very night your life is being demanded of you.What are you protecting yourself from?This table that we gather around week after week is a place of vulnerability. Because at this table we offer our very selves to God—hopes and fears, joys and thanksgivings—all that we are – along with bread and wine and food for hungry people. And when we offer it all to God, God gives back to us God’s very self—the Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven – the Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation — and we become God’s body- the living, breathing, healing, forgiving, and renewing body of Christ sent to mend this broken world. In our vulnerability.....offered to God....in Christ’s vulnerability—in his life and death, there is the great power of Resurrection and the promise of the Holy Spirit that we are not alone — we are not left comfortless.....that we’re in this thing together. We’re ALL IN.The Gospel really doesn’t matter one bit if it doesn’t change people’s lives and I am so thankful to be among this community in which I first experienced this being lived out. And I can’t wait to see where this living the Gospel together takes us next.Amen.